Gaza rebel clan leaders carve out Hamas-free zone – and say Tony Blair | World | News

Gunfire rang out and rockets exploded in Khan Younis as a brutal conflict erupted last week.

Dozens of people were killed, including Hamas fighters who were said to have been dragged through the streets.

Strikingly, there was not a single Israeli soldier at the scene, The Telegraph reported. The news emerged as the schedule for the release of Israeli hostages was published while the world was holding its breath.

Although global attention at the time was focused on the Israeli Defense Forces’ battle in Gaza City, it could be said that it was the bloodshed among Palestinians further south that gave a better idea of ​​the Strip’s future.

On the streets of Khan Younis, Hamas’s arch-enemy Hussam al-Astal rallied his men to fight against the terrorists after launching an attack on the neighboring al-Majeyda clan.

The brutal encounter represented the first serious conflict between Hamas and militia forces that the rebel leader calls the Counterterrorism Strike Force.

A social media photo of the militia leader alongside eight heavily armed men, shared around the same time as last week’s clash, includes a slogan that reads “No room for Hamas dogs.”

Escaped from prison after October 7

Hamas arrested Mr. Astal several times and sentenced him to death, but he survived by escaping prison after his guards escaped what they assumed was an Israeli retaliatory attack following the October 7 terrorist attack, The Telegraph reported.

The armed militia leader has established a “safe city”, a small area of ​​about a square mile that is now free of Hamas and promises an alternative to the terror group. He says 200 people took refuge there.

Mr. Astal cooperates with Israel by establishing this small, armed zone, which gives him freedom of movement, protection from air strikes and special access to aid.

Claims IDF supported latest operation

He claimed that his forces had foiled another attack on Muwasi district of Khan Younis last week with IDF air support.

Israeli military officials did not mention the militia group when sharing video of drone strikes against Hamas terrorists.

In a telephone interview with The Telegraph, the former security official of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governed Gaza before Hamas’ coup in 2007, described the new territory it occupied as “an area liberated from Hamas occupation”.

“We generally use pistols and AK-47s taken from Hamas,” Mr Astal told The Telegraph. “I can’t tell you how many fighters we have. This is a very sensitive issue right now; we are in a war.”

Tony Blair praised as potential Gaza leader

Once Hamas is disarmed and a transitional authority is established, potentially to be led by Sir Tony Blair, armed groups like Mr Astal’s could become the backbone of Gaza security.

“Tony Blair is a good politician,” he said. “I think his help could be useful, especially if it comes with an international agreement or mandate.

“We are ready to cooperate with anyone who will deliver aid to our people in Gaza.”

But on the evidence of recent days, this may be a rush.

Ceasefire continues as hostage release approaches

The ceasefire, which came into effect on Friday, appeared to be continuing at the time of writing, making the prospect of a sudden release of Israel’s 48 hostages (expected on Monday) increasing with each passing hour.

But there are serious unresolved questions about what will happen next, including the disarmament of Hamas, the timeline for Israel’s withdrawal, and the future governance of Gaza.

Donald Trump has put such pressure on both sides to agree on a draft agreement, initiate a ceasefire, and release the hostages that many of the details of what will happen after this so-called “phase one” have not yet been finalized.

IDF retreats as Hamas returns to the streets

After months of fighting, the IDF has now largely abandoned Gaza’s urban areas.

Hamas has not yet been disarmed and, as far as we know, no mechanism to achieve this has been agreed upon.

Both sides have yet to agree on an International Stabilization Force to be deployed in Gaza as part of Trump’s 20-point plan.

A few hours after Israel withdrew on Friday, reports emerged that Hamas’ internal security forces were patrolling the streets for the first time since a ceasefire in February.

The risk of civil war increases in Gaza

Israel is effectively prevented from reengaging by the US president, creating the risk that Gaza remains in limbo: the 47 percent of territory not controlled by Israel either returns to Hamas control or a low-level civil war breaks out, with clashes of the kind we saw in the Majayda neighborhood last week becoming a daily occurrence.

“We will not stop fighting Hamas,” Mr. Astal said. “We have martyrs, we have blood on Hamas’ hands. Even if Israel signs an agreement and stops the war with Hamas, we will not stop.”

Mr. Astal commanded 250 soldiers during his time as a Palestinian Authority security officer before Hamas came to power in 2007.

Network of former Palestinian Authority officials ready to strike

In Palestinian society, personal relationships and loyalties are more important than institutions.

Those who are not affiliated with Hamas are likely to be loyal to Fatah, the main political movement within the Palestine Liberation Organization, which governs the Palestinian Authority civil authority in the West Bank.

“I am in contact with dozens of former Palestinian Authority officials around Gaza, and we are all ready and waiting for the zero hour, the moment when we will liberate the Gaza Strip from Hamas,” Mr. Astal said. he said.

Assuming Hamas disarms and the proposed organization seizes power, it remains to be seen how a transitional authority, whether run on a day-to-day basis by Sir Tony or someone else, would manage matters such as policing.

Fear of Iraq-style insurgency

Failure to recognize and empower people with existing loyalty networks, such as Mr. Astal, and relying solely on foreign troops could have disastrous consequences, some observers said.

George W. Bush’s inevitable decision to dismiss the entire Iraqi army after the US invasion in 2003, heralding an insurgency led in part by disgruntled former officers, is a cautionary tale they point to.

Mr. Astal said empowering Fatah loyalists was not the same as handing over control to the Palestinian Authority, which he accused of standing on the sidelines during the current conflict.

“They do not want to lose their legitimacy,” he commented. “They observe our experiences. They are afraid: What if they bet on us and lose.”

No help from the Palestinian Authority

He says the Ramallah-based authority has not helped him, although he still has “a lot of contact” with his former colleagues.

Rumors persist that the Palestinian Authority, which has worked more closely with Israel in the fight against Hamas in the West Bank than either side would like to admit, is financing armed tribes, especially in southern Gaza, with the aim of displacing the group.

“Gazanians should govern Gaza, and we see ourselves as the institution that wants to govern Gaza, because we serve our own people,” he said.

“We are the ones who have suffered for 18 years. We don’t want distant authorities to control us.”

Israeli ears will welcome this message.

Netanyahu opposes Palestinian Authority control in Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu’s government downplays the idea of ​​Palestinian Authority control of Gaza and fears that shared authority over both territories would bring the Palestinians closer to a coherent state.

Mr. Astal’s cooperation with Israel makes him a highly controversial figure in Gaza, along with leaders of other armed tribes such as Yasser Abu Shabab in Rafah. Some see them as little more than paid hitmen who devastated the country’s territory and killed tens of thousands of civilians.

Israel’s relationship with groups like Mr. Astal’s has been criticized by some within the country, who argue that trying to achieve Israel’s goals by helping certain Arab groups against others normally ends in tears.

Receives aid and tactical support from Israel

Mr. Astal clearly said, “We are coordinating with Israel.” “You can’t survive without coordination. We spoil the kids, buy food, water and solar panels.”

What about tactical support? “We are coordinating on security,” he added.

The word “collaborative” will not be tolerated by Mr. Astal.

“They called me a collaborator, but my own daughter was killed in the Israeli bombardment. I was also injured in the Israeli bombardment.”

Although there are those in Gaza who dislike Astal for working with Israel, it is worth noting that he does not face the same criticism as Abu Shabaab, which is accused of being part of an organized crime network and also collaborating with the highly controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid system, whose centers have killed hundreds of Palestinians.

Tackling the root cause of Gaza’s problems

Cold pragmatism drives Mr. Astal and his followers to tackle the root cause of Gaza’s ills.

“Hamas is a war criminal,” he said. “Their biggest line of defense are human shields, people. They’re still hiding and blending in.”

“But what kind of sick people, what kind of government does this? If it weren’t for that, we could have finished them in one day.”

Trump’s plan insists that if Hamas is properly disarmed and an interim authority is established, it will disarm itself if requested.

Tackling the root cause of Gaza’s problems

Cold pragmatism drives Mr. Astal and his followers to tackle the root cause of Gaza’s ills.

“Hamas is a war criminal,” he said. “Their biggest line of defense are human shields, people. They’re still hiding and blending in.”

“But what kind of sick people, what kind of government does this? If it weren’t for that, we could have finished them in one day.”

Trump’s plan insists that if Hamas is properly disarmed and an interim authority is established, it will disarm itself if requested.

We are ready to disarm if Hamas withdraws

“Of course. We agree with any scenario for Gaza without Hamas,” Mr. Astal said.

“If countries around the world and countries in the region accept this scenario, we will be happy to cooperate and disarm.”

Israeli troops began withdrawing from areas they had fought hard to capture on Thursday, and Hamas wasted no time in turning its attention to its Palestinian foes, unleashing a barrage of insults against Mr. Astal on social media and calls for his death.

Until a meaningful disarmament mechanism is in place, they will be in a position to at least try to achieve this goal.

“They’re trying to show people that they’re strong, that they’re still there,” he said. “But we managed to defeat them. This was our first military experience. We are just settling in.”